Techbargains Reviews

The mechanical keyboard revolution has begun. It wasn't all that long ago when mechanical keyboards filled a mostly niche market, and while that's still somewhat true, we're seeing a growing number of planks emerge with mechanical key switches, and we couldn't be happier about it. As we've stated on a number of occasions, mechanical keyboards offer a much more pleasant typing experience than what you'll find on membrane-based planks.

What we have for review here is Logitech's G710+, a mechanical plank intended for gamers. It features Cherry MX Brown key switches, which are tactile and have an actuation point about halfway through the key press. You can feel the point at which the keys register a stroke, though you won't hear it like you will on mechanical keyboards that offer audible feedback. Furthermore, Logitech installed damping rings underneath each keycap to lessen noise even more.
Aside from its mechanical key switches, the G710+ boasts 6-programmabale gaming keys, adjustable dual-zone backlighting, a gaming button that disables the Windows key, media controls, and more.

Cherry MX Brown key switches with noise dampening hardware

6 programmable gaming keys

Adjustable dual-zone backlighting

110 anti-ghosting keys

26-key rollover

Game/Desktop mode

Media controls

Removable palm wrest

USB pass-through

Tilt legs

Price: $150; 1 year warranty

What We Liked:

Anything But Chintzy: Gamers are often rough on their hardware, and it's imperative that gaming peripherals be able to withstand a little bit of abuse. That's not going to be a problem for the G710+, which feels solid and is a little bit heavy. Even the cable that extends from the keyboard to your PC is thick and sturdy.

Silent Key Action: Your spouse, kids, or roommates might not be as into gaming as you are, and if that's the case, the last thing they want to hear in the middle of the night are rapid-fire keystrokes with audible clicks. The good news is that it won't be a problem with this keyboard, which suppresses noise both because of Logitech's choice of Cherry MX Brown key switches and also due to noise dampening hardware installed under each key cap.

Dedicated Gaming Keys: The G710+ provides a row of 6 dedicated gaming keys on the left-hand side, which you can program however you wish. You can create complex macros, LUA scripts, individual functions, or even create macros on the fly. The only downside here is that there are only 6 keys, though each game can toggle through three profiles.

Bright Backlight: The Logitech G710+ is a keyboard you'll have no trouble using in the dark. The backlight is extremely bright at full blast, though you can turn it down several levels, or even turn it off completely. You can also opt to only light up the WASD and arrow keys rather than the entire plank. Each of the two zones -- the main keyboard and the WASD/arrow keys -- can be adjusted independently of one another.

Aggressive Design: For a business environment, the G710+ is going to look out of place. But at a LAN party, it fits right in. Angle sides and a custom font on the keycaps give the G710+ a unique look that will blend right in with your other gaming peripherals.

What We Didn't Like:

No LCD Touchscreen: Logitech's spoiled us on the LCD touchscreens that are included on some of its other keyboards, like the G19 and G510, neither of which are mechanical in nature like this one.

Only Glows White: We mentioned that the backlight is extremely bright when cranked all the way up, and it actually bothered our eyes during testing. You can turn down the backlight, but you can't change the color to one that's less piercing on your eyeballs.

Our Verdict:

Logitech has been making gaming peripherals for a long time, so we can't really say we're surprised that the G710+ is another solid product, literally and figuratively. It's a pleasure to type on regardless of whether you're hammering out a long report or wading through a dungeon, and it's quiet to boot, a major plus if you live with people who don't stay up as late as you do playing games.

Speaking of which, we like that Logitech includes a row of programmable macro keys, and though we wish it had more of them, you can stretch out their functionality by taking advantage of up to three profiles per game.

Our minor complaints aside, the Logitech G710+ is an all-around great keyboard that feels sturdy, is comfortable to type on, and offers compelling features for gamers.